BLUESHIELD™ LA 7018

Low-Hydrogen Electrode
SMAW

CSA W48, Class E4918-1-H4

Standards
AWS A5.1/ASME SFA 5.1, Class E7018-1-H4

Description & Applications

It is a premium low hydrogen all-position electrode with a basic coating (E7018-1) used on DC or AC current.
Code quality welds are obtainable on higher strength steels with weld metal toughness properties (charpy
impacts) down to -45°C (-50°F), coupled with a low hydrogen weld deposit.
• Typical applications for this electrode are boiler and pressure vessel work, structural fabrication, pressure
piping, maintenance, or any application requiring a high-quality weld deposit with excellent mechanical
properties.

The BLUESHIELD™ Advantage

• User-friendly electrode with its ease of operation, low spatter levels, and excellent appearance.
• The low volume of hydrogen that diffuses from the weld deposit considerably reduces the tendency
to underbead (cold) cracking.
• Permits the welding of “difficult-to-weld” steels with less preheat than is required for non-basic type electrodes.
• Code quality welds (X-ray clear) are easily obtained with this electrode if proper procedures are followed.

Typical Welding Parameters

• Designed to operate with DC current electrode positive or AC in all positions.
• May be used with a stringer bead or a weaving technique.
• To obtain the best mechanical properties maintain the shortest arc possible including use of the drag technique
and stringer beads with little or no weaving.
• To reduce the possibility of starting porosity strike the electrode ahead of the crater of the previously finished
weld bead and quickly move back into the crater while reducing the arc length.

DIAMETER AMPERAGE OPTIMUM

mm in RANGE CURRENT
2.5 3/32 75 – 100 90
3.2 1/8 100 – 160 130
4.0 5/32 135 – 220 175
5.0 3/16 200 – 300 250
6.0 1/4 275 – 360 310

Typical Chemistry
C Cr Ni Mo P S Mn Si V Mn + Ni + Cr + Mo + V
0.07 0.04 0.04 0.01 0.013 0.011 0.99 0.58 0.01 1.09

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BLUESHIELD™ LA 7018
Low-Hydrogen Electrode

Typical Mechanical Properties*

SMAW
AS WELDED
TENSILE STRENGTH 561 MPa 81.4 ksi
YIELD STRENGTH 473 MPa 68.6 ksi
ELONGATION 32 % 32 %
IMPACT (Charpy V-notch)
TEST TEMPERATURE -45°C -50°F
ENERGY 108 J ** 80 ft-lb **
* Actual welding positions and procedures can impact results.
** Values of impact strength from weld deposits in the flat position according to CSA W48 Standard.

Packaging
DIAMETER LENGTH PACKAGING
ITEM NUMBER
mm in mm in kg lb
2.5 3/32 300 12 4 x 2.5 4 x 5.5 A0274397
3.2 1/8 350 14 4x5 4 x 11 A0274398
4.0 5/32 350 14 4x5 4 x 11 A0274399
4.0 5/32 450 18 4x5 4 x 11 A0274401
5.0 3/16 450 18 4x5 4 x 11 A0274402
6.0 1/4 450 18 4x5 4 x 11 A0274403

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